White leather cleaner



Patented Oct. 24, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

WHITE LEATHER CLEANER Sampson Blacher, Chicago, Ill.

No Drawing.

" '5 Most preparations for the treatment 01": white leather .used heretofore, function merely by the application of a white coating on the surface of the leather, the white coating consisting of chalk,

lime or the like, or mixtures of such materials.

Such a white coating will readily rub off and in general has other disadvantages readily understood by those skilled in the art. Moreover, the white substances usually employed are somewhat 1 alkaline, with the result that in time they will the result that the leather becomes stiff, will crack, will lose its porosity and in other ways ;sufier deterioration. g

V The principle object of my present invention is the provision of an improved white leather cleaning reparation. v

Another object is the provision of a cleaning preparation which will contain-in itself an index 25 of the condition of the leather to which it is applied.

Another object is the provision of an improved white leather cleaning preparation which will penetrate the leather sufficiently to have a bonding action and diminish the possibility of its being easily rubbed off, or dusted oil of the leather after drying. v

v Other objectsand features of the invention will 3 be apparent fromcon sideration of the following detailed description. 7 Considering the general aspects of my invention, I employ a combination of whitening materials which by application to the leather will render the same white, and the materials employed are dissolved and/or colloidally dispersed in a suitable liquid, for example water. I employ in addition to the materials that merely have a 1 whitening effect, an acid indicator, or, as more properly stated, a substance for indicating hydrogen ion' concentration. In a preferred embodiment' of the invention, the hydrogen ion indicator is of a type capable of forming with a constituent of the cleaner a water soluble substance which; on

application to the leather is precipitated within the pores of the leather, thereby having a substantial bonding effect for the superimposed layer of whitening material.

A'speciiic example of my invention, which has reduce the natural acidity of white leather, with Application August 10, 1931 Serial No. 556,338

12 Claims. (01. le -v) produced uniformly good results, is a preparation made according to the following formula:

lithopone oz.

1. 4% tri sodium phosphate 1. 8 oz. i 1% soap 13 oz. 2% calciumcarbonate 25 oz. 1% sodium benzoate -l 1 oz. 1% phenolphthalein 1 oz. (8.1% water 100 oz. 5

.The above formula makes use of phenolphthalein as an indicator. In contact with the relatively alkaline constituents of the cleaner, the phenolphthalein turns a red color and applies 1 this color to the entire composition. On application to white leather shoes, for example, the phenolphthalein loses its color and the prepara tion turns white. When drying has been completed, a very satisfactory white dressing of the leather results. If by any chance the leather is not sufficiently acid, it will not precipitate the color in the phenolphthalein and the preparation will remain somewhat pink. On long standing on exposure to the air, however, it is understood that I the'phenolphthalein will gradually lose its color 30' and the coating will turn white.

When the coating fails to change to a white within a relatively short time after application to the shoes, it is a sign that the leather is not 1 sufiiciently acid. This condition can be corrected 35 by applying a mild acid directly to the leather, as for example a mild vinegar or lemon juice. After the leather has been treated to render it more acid, the cleaner can be reapplied and good results-secured.

Another feature of the cleaner is the bonding effect which is obtained between the leather and coating by the use of my particular com-v bination of materials. When tri sodium phosphate and phenolphthalein are present in the same solution,.they react to form the sodium salt of phenolphthalein which is a water soluble material. This material forms a true solution (not merely a suspension) with the water and when applied to the leather can penetrate, thus carrying the sodium salt into the pores of the leather. This material then reacts with the acid components of the leather and, as a result, a white material, namely phenolphthalein, which 1 is insoluble in water, is precipitated in a finely 5 divided form more or less within the pores and within the structure of the leather. This imparts a whiteness to the leather which will not dust off and which produces an entirely different result than that produced by the mere superposition of a white pigment, such as is effected by the materials used heretofore in preparations of this kind, which are not soluble in water.

The formula given above may be modified in many respects without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention. The particular materials employed may be modified, and the preparation thereof may be modified. I have found that by employing the same materials, I can vary the percentages to some considerable extent and still obtain a product which for all practical purposes is substantially identical with the product produced in accordance with the specific formula given. The following table will indicate the manner in which some of these products may be varied. I

Lithopone 20 to 30 Tri sodium phosphate 1.4 to 2 Soap .1 to .2% Calcium carbonate .2 to .5% Sodium benzoate .1 to .3% Phenolphthalein .05 to .2% Water Quart.

In the above table I show an upper limit of .2% phenolphthalein. I may, however, employ larger amounts of phenolphthalein, up to as much as 5%, but in this case it is advisableto increase the amount of tri sodium phosphate slightly. An amount of phenolphthalein as great as 5% imparts considerably more color to the product and will take a somewhat greater length of time to lose its'color on application to the leather. This amount, however, provides a greater proportion of soluble material capable of being precipitated within the structure of the leather, and, from the standpoint of permanency, is of some advantage. I have found, however, that, even with very small amounts of phenolphthalein, considerable bonding action takes place.

In discussing the general features of the invention, the statement was made that a color indicator was employed and it is understood that other color indicators besides phenolphthalein can be used with satisfaction. When the prep- 1i indicators which can be used with good results the color in phenolphthalein.

in white shoe cleaners and show the condition of the leather.

It is a well known fact that white leather which loses its pliability can usually be restored by ap- 1 plying a relatively small amount of a mild'acid thereto. I have found, however, that long before the leather loses its pliability, it shows a sufficient decrease in its acid condition so that it will have substantially no effect in precipitating Accordingly, by the use of my preparation, the condition of the leather is indicated to the user long before the acid diminution has progressed to a stage which will cause actual deterioration. The fact that a reddish or pinkish tint will be imparted to the leather if it is not sufficiently acid will be an impelling reason for prompting the user to treat the leather with acid before it has actually started to get stiff.

In order that those skilled in the art may understand the invention fully, the following directions for the application of the preparation are given. The insoluble substances settle to the bottom of the preparation on standing and so the entire preparation should be shaken well as a first requisite. A cloth is then wetted with the preparation, which is applied to the leather surface to be cleaned. After application, it is allowed to dry for a few minutes and the excess powder which may remain on the surface can be rubbed off readily with a soft, clean cloth. If a gloss is desired, the leather can be rubbed briskly and a brilliant gloss can be obtained. This is possible, due to the bonding action with the leather which has been explained fully.

Although I have described my invention in detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice same, it is obvious that I do not restrict myself to the specific formula given and the invention is limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

*' What I claim as new and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:-

1. In a white leather cleaning preparation, a white coating material, a fluid vehicle for applying the coating material to the leatherg a relatively small amount of phenolphthalein, anda substance forming with the phenolphthalein a soluble salt, whereby the phenolphthaleinjsalt having a reddish color may be deposited within the structure of the leather by precipitation on contact with the acid constituents thereof, and whereby the phenolphthalein becomes c'olorless on application.

2. In a white leather cleaning preparation, a white coating material normally alkaline to phe' nolphthalein, av relatively small amount of -trisodium phosphate, a relatively small amount of phenophthalein, and a fluid vehicle-for applying the white coating material, tri sodiulnph s hate and phenolphthalein to the leather.

In a white leather cleaning preparation, a white coating material, an aqueous fluid vehicle for applying the coating material to the leather, a relatively small amount of phenolphthaleihfand a substance forming with the phenolphthalein'a soluble salt, whereby the phenolphthaleinsalt having a reddish color may be deposited within the structure of the leather by precipitation on contact with the acid constituents thereofi'an'd whereby the phenolphthalein becomes colorless on application.

4. Ina white leather cleaning preparation, a white coating material normally alkaline to phenolphthalein, a relatively small amount of trisodium phosphate, a relatively small amount of phenolphthalein, and an aqueous fluid vehicle for applying the white coating material, tri-so ium phosphate and phenolphthaleinto thelea 5. In" a white leather cleaning preparation, a white coating material, a relativelysmall'amount 'of tri-sodium phosphate, a relativelysinall amount of phenolphthalein, an aqueous'fluidfve' hicle, and a relatively small amount of soap.

6. In a white leather cleaningpreparation, a

white coating material, a relatively small amount of tri-sodium phosphate, a relatively small amount of phenolphthalein, an aqueous fiuidvehicle, and a relatively small amount of sodium benzoate. r

7. A white leather cleaning preparation comprising lithopone, tri-sodium phosphate, phenol: phthalein and water.

8. A'white leather cleaning preparationcomiprising lithopone, tri-sodium phosphate, soap, phenolphthalein and water.

9. A white leather cleaning preparation comprising lithopone, tri-sodium phosphate; soap, calcium carbonate, sodium' benzoate, "asubstanc'e 12. In a leather cleaning preparation, a white coating material, an aqueous fluid vehicle for applying the coating material to the leather, a substance capable of changing color in response to different hydrogen ion concentrations, and a second substance forming with said first sub stance a water soluble salt, whereby said salt will be deposited in the structure of the leather when the cleaner is applied thereto and whereby said first mentioned substance will at the same time change its color.

SAMPSON BLACHER. 

